Busting the myths of video learning

Martin Baker goes myth busting…

There are an awful lot of myths in learning and development, and using video is no exception. Here are some of the ones I’ve heard recently:

Myth 1: ‘The only place to post videos is YouTube’Look for a bespoke, secure platform offering relevant, trusted content, where you can also safely upload your own videos and keep them private. Then there will be no cat videos to distract anyone!

Myth 2: ‘Setting up video learning is a bit complicated isn’t it?’It shouldn’t be. Ask any supplier about their customer service – are you just buying a product, or are they committed to helping you set it up with minimum fuss? Do they offer ongoing support to help you embed video learning into your company culture, to make it a success?

Myth 3: ‘Video learning is soooo expensive’It doesn’t have to be. For example, a subscription to Clear Lessons starts at just £8k for 1,000 employees. This includes more than 550 leadership videos and a secure, personalised platform. We think that’s pretty good value, and what’s more, proceeds support the Clear Lessons Foundation, providing free video learning for UK charities.

Myth 4: ‘Video learning is an added extra and we’ll manage without it’Video learning is no longer the future, it’s what your leaders and managers want, need and expect right NOW. A billion hours of video are watched worldwide every day – that’s more than just a new trend. Can you really afford to not invest in video learning?

Myth 5: ‘The videos I’ve seen seem a bit fake and a little patronising’I think you can spot something that’s not genuine pretty quickly: you just can’t beat authenticity. Look for videos that don’t use actors or scripts, that share good practice based on real experience. Adding your own in-house content, created by and starring your own workforce, will also help with engagement.

Myth 6: ‘Won’t people just watch videos all day?’In more than 25 years working in learning and development, we’ve never seen that happen. Getting people to take responsibility for their own development can be a far greater challenge. Offering mobile learning 24/7 in the video format they love is a great place to start. Plus our videos are only a few minutes long, to deliver bite sized inspiration to support the flow of work.

About Martin Baker

Martin Baker is the Chief Executive and founder of Clear Lessons, a unique video learning library and bespoke platform. Proceeds support the Clear Lessons Foundation, enabling free video learning to be offered to the UK charity sector. Find out more or register for a free trial at www.clearlessons.com